Antonyms for pellmell

Word Origin & History

"confusedly," 1570s, from Middle French pêle-mêle, from Old French pesle mesle (12c.), apparently a jingling rhyme on the second element, which is from the stem of the verb mesler "to mix, mingle" (see meddle). Phonetic French form pelly melly is attested in English from mid-15c.

Example Sentences for pellmell

Through the gates of the palisade now came, pellmell, the crowd without.

Pack my things, throw them in helter skelter, pellmell, all in a heap.

Then with a strong pull he hauled her half out of the saddle, pellmell into his arms.

Young voices trembled in affright, people rushed about in haste, pellmell.

Woman's Rights were pretty well represented in that pellmell.

Dashing into the stockade, he hardly paused as he snatched up the lamp, and went on pellmell for the hut.

A stream of it, dazzling them almost to blindness and sending them, one and all, pellmell back upon each other!

And pellmell, hobbling and shouting and straining, all the ragged company strung out after.

On they came, crimson-faced, mouths open, British and Americans in a pellmell rush like a rally of boys at football.

Pellmell across the street swarmed the little fellows, each bound to get there first.